Scented flowers
The white five-petalled flowers have a clean star-like form and a fragrance often compared with jasmine.
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Carissa macrocarpa 3lt
Normal price
€15,00
What does the legal guarantee mean for plants?
The legal guarantee concerns the plant’s conformity at delivery. It is not a guarantee of survival or growth for two years. Each issue is assessed taking into account the nature of the plant, its care and the conditions in which it is kept. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.
Carissa macrocarpa
If you do not like this green, you probably do not want green 😏
- Glossy leathery foliage
- Fragrant white flowers
- Red ripe fruit
- Tolerates salt spray
Carissa macrocarpa brings together the polished luxury of evergreen foliage, waxy white star flowers and striking reddish fruit in a single plant. Its dense, sculpted crown has genuine presence, while the characteristic forked thorns add an almost graphic, exotic edge. When flowers and fruit share the branches, the contrast of white, dark green and red creates a particularly memorable display.
It is a strong choice for contemporary containers, coastal compositions and low protective boundaries where beauty also needs substance. The robust silhouette is self-sufficient as a focal point, yet it also anchors combinations of silver foliage and finer-textured plants with great clarity.
What makes it special
Natal plum stands out by combining ornamental interest, strong structure and an ability to cope with exposed positions.
Year-round foliage
Thick dark green leaves keep their glossy surface and provide a stable mass even in coastal conditions.
Natural defence
Strong single or forked thorns allow it to form a low barrier wherever people do not brush past the crown.
Why you will love it: it is beautiful, robust and assertive enough to define a space.
In the garden & on the balconyPlacement & plant combinationsIn sun and away from narrow paths, for coastal borders, a low barrier or a large container.
A structural shrub with safe clearance from paths
Use it on the outer edge of a border, as a low protective hedge or in a large pot on a sunny terrace. Avoid places where children, pets or passers-by would frequently touch the crown.
In a group, allow mature crowns to meet without becoming compressed. Access for pruning must remain easy because of the thorns.
Combinations that work
Deep glossy green is sharpened by silver, fine-leaved textures and warm flowers. Choose companions for full sun, excellent drainage and moderate water once established.
- Westringia fruticosa — adds finer silver-green texture and shares its tolerance of sun, wind and maritime exposure
- Lomandra longifolia — forms soft linear clumps in front of the thorny crown without demanding frequent irrigation
- Lantana montevidensis — brings low violet flowers to a warm, sunny and free-draining position
Care at a glance
Light
Full sun for dense growth and flowers; also accepts bright partial shade.
Watering
Even water while establishing, then deep irrigation when the soil has dried.
Climate & hardiness
Warm-climate plant that tolerates heat, wind and salt spray but needs protection from hard frost.
Safety
Mind the thorns and irritating milky sap; only fully ripe fruit is edible, and no other part should be consumed.
Detailed careComplete care guideSun, safe placement, drainage, establishment watering, pruning and cold protection.
Position & light
Provide full sun or very bright partial shade. Stronger light supports a denser crown, flowering and fruiting.
Watering
Keep moisture more even through the first year. Once rooted, water deeply and allow air back into the soil before irrigating again.
Soil
Use fertile but well-drained soil. Never leave a container standing in a saucer of water.
Pruning
Wear thick gloves and eye protection. Small trims after a growth flush preserve the outline without creating large wounds.
Flowers & fruit
Do not repeatedly remove every fresh shoot if flowers and fruit are wanted. Growing more than one plant may improve fruit set.
Winter protection
Protect or move the pot during frost. Cold, saturated roots are more dangerous than a short spell of cool weather.
Development over timeHow it becomes dense and protectiveGrowth progresses from rooting to branching and the gradual formation of a robust evergreen mass.
First year
With even watering it establishes a new root system and begins side branching. Do not force the final outline too early.
Increasing density
Lightly shortening long shoots encourages new branches and creates a more compact boundary.
Seasonal interest
In warm conditions flowering may repeat and be followed by fruit that changes from green to red as it ripens.
Mature form & dimensions
Typical garden formHeight 1.5–2.1mSpread 1.5–2mMulti-stemmed, thorny crown
A dense shrub in its typical garden form, with opposite leathery leaves and forked thorns. These dimensions are not the species’ ultimate limit: planted in open ground in a warm climate and left unpruned, it can reach about 4m in height.
Form through time
EvergreenFlowers and fruitWhite flowers and red fruit attach to the shoots by short stalks.
Foliage phaseOpposite leaves and forked thorns remain along the branches.
Flowers and fruit may be present together in warm conditions. The foliage phase shows the same evergreen shrub with reduced reproductive activity.
What to expect after planting: mainly fresh growth at first, then more flowers and possible fruit once it is settled in a bright position. The garden form shown in the diagram is not a dwarf cultivar; planted in open ground in a warm climate and left unpruned, it can grow considerably taller.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Spines, not mere prickles
The distinctive forked spines arise at the nodes as lignified, modified short shoots. They are not epidermal outgrowths like a rose prickle: they are anatomically continuous with the stem, which explains their rigidity.
A berry beside a latex system
The fleshy ovoid fruit is botanically a many-seeded berry. Stems and unripe tissues contain laticifers that release white latex, while only the fully ripe fruit is the part traditionally treated as edible.
Frequently asked questions
Six practical answers about position, watering and long-term growth.
01Is it suitable for a low hedge?
Yes, because it branches densely and accepts clipping, provided it is kept away from frequent contact due to the thorns.
02Can it grow near the sea?
Yes. It has good tolerance of salt spray and wind when drainage is sound.
03How much water does it need?
More frequent watering while establishing, followed by deeper and less frequent irrigation. Do not keep the roots saturated.
04Is the fruit edible?
Only fully ripe fruit is described as edible. Unripe parts and milky sap should not be consumed.
05Why is it not flowering?
Common reasons include insufficient sun, repeatedly clipping fresh shoots, or excessive nitrogen.
06Should I wear gloves for pruning?
Yes. The thorns and milky sap call for thick gloves, long sleeves and clean tools.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.